Yarran to face Blues in AFL round one

Former Carlton speedster Chris Yarran won’t have to wait long to take on his old club with Richmond set to kick off the 2016 AFL season with a blockbuster clash against the Blues at the MCG.

While the full season fixture will be released later this week, details of the first round schedule were announced on the league’s website on Sunday.

The clash between the traditional rivals will get the 2016 season underway on Thursday, March 24, before a brief pause with no games scheduled on Good Friday as expected.

Collingwood’s clash with Sydney at ANZ Stadium is the pick of Saturday’s matches, while beaten grand finalists West Coast kick off their campaign with a home encounter against Brisbane on Sunday.

The round finishes with another big rivalry clash with Patrick Dangerfield to pull on a Geelong guernsey for the first time for premiership points when the Cats take on reigning premiers Hawthorn at the MCG on Easter Monday.

Yarran crossed from Carlton to the Tigers with just 30 minutes remaining in this year’s trade period, after a tense standoff between the clubs.

The 24-year-old played 119 games in seven seasons with the Blues but he requested a trade to Punt Road after his relationship with the club soured this year.